long tube headers on a car this low?

danewers

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Dec 26, 2004
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should i even attempt to get long tube headers with my car being this low? right now (in the pics) you can see my existing exhaust system is hanging about an inch above the ground, its a really lousy exhaust system done by a muffler shop before i got the car. but my question is, would i gain any ground clearance from what i have now (with the crappy exhaust system) if i got some long tube headers and some properly installed exhaust?
 

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I was just looking at the long tubes in my 1970.

With my headman longtubes, the header pipes hang exactly as low as my frame rails. However, the header flange is about 1/2" lower than the frame rails.

Don't know if the same thing can be done with your 68... but on my 70 with longtubes, the exhaust doesn't hang as low as it does on the car pictured above.
 
Nice car, although I wouldn't go over any "speed bumps" or up any steep driveways...
By the way, is that your fuel line with the rubber hose connection? If it is, I'd replace it with solid as soon as possible. I know it looks closer than it really is due to camera angle, but you don't want to spray fuel anywhere near that exhaust.
Daniel
 
A little OT, but there's something I don't understand. Typically the exhaust manifolds will have a flange so that a donut can go between the manifold and the rest of the exhaust. My understanding was that the donuts allow the engine to move.

My question is: I'm assuming that without the flange there will be no donuts and the entire exhaust will be welded solid. Won't that cause problems over time when the engine moves with respect to the chassis?

Another question: wouldn't this make the exhaust system extremely hard to work with if you need to pull the engine?
 
thanks for all the replies guys! hopefully i'll figure something out cuz i would love to have some long tubes someday. anyone know of any long tube headers that possibly have more ground clearance then others? i've been looking at a set of mac tru fit long tube headers and they claim ground clearance is never a problem. is this true?
 
I tell you.. my longtubes have been a real PITA.

Given the chance to do it over again, I would have went with shorty style headers. The extra 5-10 HP just isn't worth all of the troubles. I literally have to pull the engine to get them in/out.. they scrape on the ground...the bolts are a real pain to tighten which results in blown gaskets and exhaust leaks.. they heat the heck out of the passanger and engine compartment. Just not worth all the hassle for a few HP in my opinion.